JESSE JACKSON

George Will once wrote, “Nowadays no diplomatic farce is complete without a cameo appearance by Jesse Jackson.” Truer words have never been spoken.

Jackson is now weighing in on the Alabama coaching vacancy, hollering that Alabama ought to hire a black coach rather than the front-runner, Mike Shula.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson urged the University of Alabama on Monday to consider hiring a black head coach.

Jackson told the Associated Press the hiring process should focus on “the best coaches available in the market.”

He added, “The crisis at the University of Alabama creates an opportunity for them to consider a qualified African-American football coach.”

Commenting on Alabama’s interest in Shula, a son of NFL coaching great Don Shula, Jackson said: “You shouldn’t get these jobs by incest and an inheritance. You should get them based upon some track record of service.”

The idea that Mike Shula is unqualified except for the fact that his father is a legend is silly. He was a solid quarterback for the Tide and has gone on to an exemplary coaching career of his own. Further, while I have endorsed the idea of strongly looking at hiring Sylvester Croom, I don’t want the school to do it under pressure from Jesse Jackson. Doing so would demean the University and be insulting to Croom, who by all accounts is a decent man and a solid football coach.

FILED UNDER: Race and Politics, Sports, , , , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. PoliBlogger says:

    Indeed–it was Dave Shula who got jobs because of his last name, not Mike 🙂

  2. Nep O Tism says:

    Dad is right.

    Jessie Jackson, Jr.
    Member of Congress

  3. PoliBlogger says:

    That’s just a coincidence!!

  4. James Joyner says:

    True. Indeed, I’d guess a fair number of Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s constituents have no idea he’s related to Jesse Jackson, Sr.

  5. Well, considering quite a few of them have probably been living in Southside Memorial Gardens for a decade or two, I’m sure the relationship would be lost on them.

  6. Taressa Caldwell says:

    Please help me I’m looking for Rev. Jessie Jackson email address or mailing address. I am a 15 year old freshmen who need help. My father who have been charge with 2 counts of murder. Need some one to help him bad. My father has not killed no one. They have been having him lock up in jail with no evidents for a year. They have no evidents so they been holding him in jail for child support just to kill time. They are trying to find things to keep him in there. They have sent mail out to the family lying about when his trial starts and It already then started. They have done this just so it looks like he have no support system. They are trying to sending my mom to PA. for something dumb to get her out of town. Because she is supporting him. They are not giving him a fair trial. We can’t pay Rev. Jessie Jackson but if he could support us. Help us get this gentleman a fair trial. If not the will send a innocent me to jail for a crime he did not comment. Not only that they are trying to give him the death pently. We need help Please. Help……when you like on the court system at his case I say all charges have been dismissed. Why is he still in jail and why is he having trial…..

  7. Yolandera Garcia says:

    Please forward Jessie Jackson e-mail address for personal reasons. Thanks

  8. Deborah Lee says:

    I AM WRITTING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR HELP.WITH BALTIMORE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE SCHOOL PUT US IN A 58,000,000 OR MORE .AND NOW THEY WANT TO CUT TEACHER AND PARA PROFESIONAL SALARY.THEY HAVE ALREADY LAY OFF 800 OR MORE PEOPLE .AND NOW THEY WANT TO LAY OFF 1200 MORE PEOPLE .AND THE GOVERNOR DO NOT WANT TO GIVE US ANY MONEY.ALSO THEY DID NOT GIVE US THE MONEY FROM THE THORTON GRANT.WE HAVE BEEN VOTING ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THE PASS MONTH NOW AND TWICE WE HAVE REJECTED THERE PROPOSAL TWICE.PLEASE COME AND HELP US THIS CRISIS.SINCERELY YOUR DEBORAH LEE.

  9. Emma Page says:

    I am a single parent of three sons: 15, 12, and a 10 year old. My 12 year old was called out of his name during school hours and I wanted to know if the Rev.Jessie Jackson would be so kind and make an appearance at my sons school or maybe speak on his behalf at the School District to the Superintendant or something. My mailing address is 47 Cherry Avenue Kingstree,SC 29556.
    A statement was made by Rev.Jessie, during his visit to Charleston,SC. Please if you would Rev.Jessie, answer my request.

  10. La Verne Baptiste says:

    Rev. Jackson,

    Something must be done with the ruling in the
    State of Massachusetts that it will begin to
    issue civil certificates to Gays in that state beginning on May 12th. That is the day that
    the landmark decision Brown vs. the Board of
    Education was handed down. Why do the Gays keep attaching themselves to our coat- tails? Is this a way for the State of Massa- chusetts to insult and intimidate us as a race and as a people? Something is afoot! The Gays have borrowed many of the slogans and poster mottoes that have been associated with our Black civil rights issues.

    “Black by Nature/Proud by Choice” (Gay by Na-
    ture/Proud by Choice). When does this stop?
    On the marriage issue, marriage has no equal. And how does one legitimately legali-
    lize sodomy through marriage? They must find their own “voice”, their own “words” to doc-
    ument what their behavior is describing. Too
    many traditions in this country are being trampled on to try to justify moral, civil, and constitutional rights. If a sodomistic marriage falls in the boundaries of these three rights, why is it that no one asked for this right after the Civil War or during the protests in these four decades (30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s)?

    Will you be able to speak out on this issue?
    Gay people have the right to exist in this society, but to intrude on what has been a
    religious and moral union from time imme-
    morial is an anachronism–out of place and
    out of time. They are smart people and, with their intelligence, they can begin to write and establish their own traditions. If the dearly departed Dr. MLJ, Jr., were here today, just how do you think he would stand on this issue?

    Honorable Rev. Jesse Jackson, I whole-
    heartedly appeal to you, with your kind and
    gentle words, to speak to this issue, and try
    to bring us back to sensibility and reality. I am
    no longer able to differentiate the differences between the sensibly intelligent people of America and the ones with no intelligence. It
    seems as though America is on a heated path to have anarchy in this country over issues that are well-served by being left
    alone. Selfish, ill-gotten rights are like other ill-gotten gains in this country. This ill-gotten right, which will serve only a few in this country, cannot be validated by any State, by me, by you, or by any religious, civil, or moral
    belief.

    God bless and God bless America.

    Respectfully,
    La Verne J. Baptiste
    High school teacher
    California

  11. Zachary D. Weaver says:

    Dear: This is a letter to all the people who I have come in contact with in some way or another

    This is my plea for aid and support my name is Zachary D. Weaver I’m originally from Chicago, but I’m now currently attending Rust College in Holly Spring Mississippi where I’m a sophomore. I’m a B average college student who majors in political science and sociology and have ambitions of pursuing my PhD in sociology or maybe law school. I have many high hopes but many deep saddiness. I struggle with every aspect of my life. I have experienced my fair share of tragedies and pains. It is my desire to convey my experience to you hope of gaining your understanding it this matter, but in hopes to gain and keep your attention I will make my story short. I have lived and at present time still live a life of incredible responsibility. My mother died when two day after my tenth birthday which was a tragic moment in my life. I never had a father in my life, never really new who he was, and I really needed one at various point in my life, but he just never seemed to be there. After my mother died my grandmother took care of me and my baby bother for seven more year of our lives until her death, at the time of her death I was 17 and scared no family to show concern or even care, as far as they were concerned I was just another mouth to feed so to them I was a 17 adult, and with that I had to survive on my own. I was afraid and in need of help Mentally, physically, financially, and emotionally didn’t know what to do, but thank God for his grace and for sending me people who care. They are the reason I survived this long. But those few have come and gone and now I am alone again. As you read this letter please do not get the misconception that I am solely dependent but on the contrary I’m very independent young man who is in constant need of assistance until I am capable of supporting my self. Well I am sure those who read this letter will have many question one of there questions will be why don’t you have a job well I have works studies but that goes toward tuition I don’t have a real job because there is no demand for workers in a small town such as Holly Spring, and the closest place to work is Memphis and I cant get there because I don’t have a car and I cant get a car cause I don’t have any money and not to mention that I am 7000.00 in debt because of the credit card I had to use to survive after my grandmothers death .I’ve tried to find government programs to help me and grant but I keep reaching a dead end. My credit is sinking into the ground, I have a debt I cannot pay, don’t have a car, don’t have life insurance, and not have a job. And I cant hardly pay the fees in which the school inflict on me, mind you there is no compassion from the shool, credit collectors and probely non from the people who receive this letter. If you can help me in any way or by just being a mentor in my life please help.

    Sincerely

    Zachary D. Weaver

    Contact Information
    Zachary D. Weaver
    Rust College
    150 Rust Ave
    Davage-Smith Hall Room 251
    Holly Spring, Ms 38635
    Numbers I can be reached
    662-252-8260
    901-485-5155